1.Why John Amos missed two episodes in a row, "THe Baby"-(308), and "Michael's Big Fall"-(309)

2.Why would the guy who played Grandpa Evans be brought back for a guest apperance in season 4, but wasn't brought back to guest star in the season 4 episodes that was the Two Part episode of James Funeral?

3.Why was the Michael Evans character not seen or mentioned in the episode-"My Son, the Lover"

4.What was it exactly that forced Esther Rolle to leave the show after the 1976-77 season?

5.What was it that made the producers to remove the BLUE HAT on top of J.J's head for good?

6.Why were John Amos and Esther Rolle both absent from the episode-"J.J in Trouble"?

7.Where did the idea come from to create the character-"Sweet Daddy Williams"

8.Why wasn't Jimmie Walker seen in the last episode of season 3-"Rent Party"?

9.Was it Moses Gunn decision not to play the Carl Dixon character anymore after th 1976-77 season?

10.What goal was the producers trying to accomplish by adding Janet Jackson to the show?

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
2.Why would the guy who played Grandpa Evans be brought back for a guest apperance in season 4, but wasn't brought back to guest star in the season 4 episodes that was the Two Part episode of James Funeral?

3.Why was the Michael Evans character not seen or mentioned in the episode-"My Son, the Lover"

4.What was it exactly that forced Esther Rolle to leave the show after the 1976-77 season?

5.What was it that made the producers to remove the BLUE HAT on top of J.J's head for good?

8.Why wasn't Jimmie Walker seen in the last episode of season 3-"Rent Party"?

9.Was it Moses Gunn decision not to play the Carl Dixon character anymore after th 1976-77 season?

10.What goal was the producers trying to accomplish by adding Janet Jackson to the show?

For #2 I would guess that it didn't dawn on the writers to use him (plus this episode was based on an All in the Family script right? I don't think it occurred to the writers to have the grandfather show up more than once until after James was dead and gone).

For #3 and #8 I would guess they just gave the actors a week off. Since Esther Rolle and John Amos were missing eps they could give the others a break too. Willona missed several episodes during the first 3 seasons. Thelma was the best looking so she was kept around for her looks.:)

For #4 I'd say Ms Rolle probably left in disgust as she saw the JJ character wasn't improving and the ratings were down and hence for #9 Moses Gunn was no longer needed in the producers' opinion.

As for the hat the producers probably figured it was time for JJ to grow up.

As for Penny so many shows add a cute youngster in the later seasons you could compile a book on them. And she was a Jackson no less guaranteed in the producers' minds to get people to watch despite Esther Rolle's absence.

Originally posted by jamesanthony
For #2 I would guess that it didn't dawn on the writers to use him (plus this episode was based on an All in the Family script right? I don't think it occurred to the writers to have the grandfather show up more than once until after James was dead and gone).

For #3 and #8 I would guess they just gave the actors a week off. Since Esther Rolle and John Amos were missing eps they could give the others a break too. Willona missed several episodes during the first 3 seasons. Thelma was the best looking so she was kept around for her looks.:)

For #4 I'd say Ms Rolle probably left in disgust as she saw the JJ character wasn't improving and the ratings were down and hence for #9 Moses Gunn was no longer needed in the producers' opinion.

As for the hat the producers probably figured it was time for JJ to grow up.

As for Penny so many shows add a cute youngster in the later seasons you could compile a book on them. And she was a Jackson no less guaranteed in the producers' minds to get people to watch despite Esther Rolle's absence.

But wasn't it the Jackson Brothers who were famous during the 70's? Not Janet. They could have added one of the Jackson Five-LOL

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
But wasn't it the Jackson Brothers who were famous during the 70's? Not Janet. They could have added one of the Jackson Five-LOL

They had to settle for what was available. Randy was busy touring with his older brothers and Janet with her Mae West act was waiting to get her venue. Actually I can't think of any other African American girl at the time that would have attracted attention if she were cast in 1977.

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
1.Why John Amos missed two episodes in a row, "THe Baby"-(308), and "Michael's Big Fall"-(309)

2.Why would the guy who played Grandpa Evans be brought back for a guest apperance in season 4, but wasn't brought back to guest star in the season 4 episodes that was the Two Part episode of James Funeral?

3.Why was the Michael Evans character not seen or mentioned in the episode-"My Son, the Lover"

4.What was it exactly that forced Esther Rolle to leave the show after the 1976-77 season?

5.What was it that made the producers to remove the BLUE HAT on top of J.J's head for good?

6.Why were John Amos and Esther Rolle both absent from the episode-"J.J in Trouble

7.Where did the idea come from to create the character-"Sweet Daddy Williams"

8.Why wasn't Jimmie Walker seen in the last episode of season 3-"Rent Party"?

9.Was it Moses Gunn decision not to play the Carl Dixon character anymore after th 1976-77 season?

10.What goal was the producers trying to accomplish by adding Janet Jackson to the show?


wow what questions

i won't even try to respond to them
I will just sit back and watch the sparks fly

but great questions TVA

Originally posted by Trishalla
wow what questions

i won't even try to respond to them
I will just sit back and watch the sparks fly

but great questions TVA



Here is another question i forgot about, why did Good times make so many references to the other CBS show "The Waltons"

Originally posted by TVShow Analyzer
Here is another question i forgot about, why did Good times make so many references to the other CBS show "The Waltons"

That is a good question, I mean not to be stereotypical, but I find it hard that a family from the ghetto would watch such syrupy garbage like the Waltons.

Originally posted by Brian Damage
That is a good question, I mean not to be stereotypical, but I find it hard that a family from the ghetto would watch such syrupy garbage like the Waltons.


It was said in one ep of GT that the difference between the Waltons and the EVans was that the Waltons were nice and the Evans were mean

Originally posted by jamesanthony
They had to settle for what was available. Randy was busy touring with his older brothers and Janet with her Mae West act was waiting to get her venue. Actually I can't think of any other African American girl at the time that would have attracted attention if she were cast in 1977.


Janet Jackson was exposed to the public eye when she appeared on The Jackson Five Variety Show which aired for a good 4-6wks if my memory serves me correctly. So a lot of people knew her as the baby Jackson. I guess the producers thought they would cash in on her.

Originally posted by laneyday
Janet Jackson was exposed to the public eye when she appeared on The Jackson Five Variety Show which aired for a good 4-6wks if my memory serves me correctly. So a lot of people knew her as the baby Jackson. I guess the producers thought they would cash in on her.

I can't imagine what Janet Jackson could have been doing to entertain viewers on the Jackson Five Variety Hour because she was no where near entertaining on Good Times

She mostly did the same thing with her brother Randy that she did with Michael. Imitating Sonny and Cher and Mae West. She did a little singing and dancing with her brothers. I used to love to see her dance. You know it's funny, most entertainers are more entertaining before they get on a television sitcom. The writers and producers seem to make their talents so restrictive where as when they were doing what they were doing before, they were more free.:)

Originally posted by laneyday
She mostly did the same thing with her brother Randy that she did with Michael. Imitating Sonny and Cher and Mae West. She did a little singing and dancing with her brothers. I used to love to see her dance. You know it's funny, most entertainers are more entertaining before they get on a television sitcom. The writers and producers seem to make their talents so restrictive where as when they were doing what they were doing before, they were more free.:)



SO THAT"S WHERE THOSE STUPID ACTS CAME FROM!! On the 4 part episode when she gets abused by her mother, She and Michael imitates Sonny and Cher. And then she does Mae West imitation in the episode Breaker, Breaker. I think it was very cheesy to have Janet do the same acts she did on the Jackson Variety Hour.

Yeah, I suppose the producers thought since Janet charmed the public with her talents from the variety show, she could WOW the Good Times viewers.:dollar: (you know what I mean)

Originally posted by laneyday
Yeah, I suppose the producers thought since Janet charmed the public with her talents from the variety show, she could WOW the Good Times viewers.:dollar: (you know what I mean)


That's just why the ratings fell QUICKLY

janet jackson: let's be real. show producers knew what they were doing. janet as a preteen was not cute. could not sing. was an ok young actress. they didn't care about all that. they were trying to capitalize on that last name. knew people were in love with the Jackson 5 and guess what, they got a little sister that sing and dance too! now janet is my girl and i also loved the character of penny. penny spawned some of the most classic episodes of the entire show.

"mama no. i'll be good, mama. mama please. mama don't"

I still get a slight chill when I see Kim Field's mother on other shows. She damaged me THAT bad. LOL

As for the questions regarding people being absent, people do take time off you know. And some of the absences of James and Esther were due to back and forth haggling with the producers regarding creative direction. But one monkey don't stop no show.

Just my thoughts.

Originally posted by knl9674
janet jackson: let's be real. show producers knew what they were doing. janet as a preteen was not cute. could not sing. was an ok young actress. they didn't care about all that. they were trying to capitalize on that last name. knew people were in love with the Jackson 5 and guess what, they got a little sister that sing and dance too! now janet is my girl and i also loved the character of penny. penny spawned some of the most classic episodes of the entire show.

"mama no. i'll be good, mama. mama please. mama don't"

I still get a slight chill when I see Kim Field's mother on other shows. She damaged me THAT bad. LOL

As for the questions regarding people being absent, people do take time off you know. And some of the absences of James and Esther were due to back and forth haggling with the producers regarding creative direction. But one monkey don't stop no show.

Just my thoughts.


I don't know about Esther's absences being because of haggling. But i do know John Amos was since he missed two episodes in a row.

Check this website out:

http://www.blackfilm.com/0206/features/i-johnamos.shtml

No wonder John had problems with the producers. He used to write for tv long before Good Times.